Table



June 13, 1939. LEY 2,162,298

TABLE Filed July 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l I H Cacleianilflailfy,

June 13, 1939. A BAILEY 2,162,298.

TABLE Filed July 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 13, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in tables, and hasfor an object to provide a table wherein the top is formed of aplurality of leaves or segments that'may be quickly 5 raised and lockedin their raised condition and wherein the same may also be quicklylowered to an inclined position, so that the table will not occupy asmuch room as when the top is in open position.

10 One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a tableconsisting of a standard or pillar, to which is hinged a plurality ofleaves that go to make up the top and wherein a rack and pinion isassociated with the leaves, so that with a few turns of the pinion, theleaves may be swung, upwardly to provide the fiat table top, or when thetable is not to be used, the leaves may likewise be quickly lowered.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a table including astandard, to the upper end of which are hinged the segmental parts ofthe top, certain of the segments being operated by a rack and pinion andthese segments, in turn, lifting the remaining segments.

25 Still another object of theinvention is to provide a table whereinmeans are provided on the under surface of some of the leaves that willextend out beyond and above the plane of the same, so that any magazinesor papers on the 30 table may be placed in these supporting means whenthe table leaves are lowered. 7

Still another object of the invention is to.provide a hollow pillar inwhich a rackv and pinion may be situated, the rack, in turn, beingsecured 35 to a guide bar that travels within slots in the pillar, whichguide bar, through a collar and arms, is connected with the leaves orsegments, so that but little energy is needed to elevate the leaves tothus open the table.

40 With these and other objects in view, the invention consists incertain new and novel features and combination of parts, as will behereinafter more fully explained and pointed out in the claim.

Referring now to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of my improved table showing the top in itsopened position;

50 Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1,. showing the rack pinion forelevating the table top;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the elevating eaves (longleaves), showing the same in their folded or dropped position;

55 Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through what I term the shortleaves, these also being in their folded or dropped position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the standard orpillar, showing the elevating means and the method of attaching the -'5standard to the feet;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken at right angles toFig. 5, showing the rack and pinion and disk for elevating the leaves ofthe table;

Fig. '7 is a further enlarged transverse sectional. view through thedisk and its associated mechanism for raising the leaves of the table;Fig. 8 is a similar transverse section to Fig. '7, but taken above thesliding collar or sleeve, which fits about the standard and is used inconnection with elevating the leaves of the table;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the sliding collar or sleeve on aline with the cross bar to which the rack is attached;

Fig. 10 is a face view of the register disk used for locking the leavesin elevated or folded position;

Fig. 11 is a detailed bottom face View of one of the long elevatingleaves showing the ex- 5 tension bar, bracket and hinged formation; and

Fig. 12 is a similar detailed bottom face view of one of the shorterleaves showing the book or magazine rack swung to its opened positionready for use.

Referring now more especially to the several views, and for the momentto Figs. 1, 2, and 5,

there is shown my improved table, comprising the base or pedestal I!having the outwardly extending feet 2, which may be of wood or metal andof any desired shape or configuration.

In Fig. 5, there is shown the manner in which the standard or pillar 3is secured. to the base, it being provided with a small peripheralflange 4, which may be screwed into the base, as at 5, although othermeans of attaching this standard or pillar to the base might beemployed.

The standard 3 is preferably formed of tubular metal and may be brass,chromium, or one of the cheaper metals with a covering of nickel plate,so as to present a pleasing appearance.

In the opposite sides of the standard 3 are out two vertical slots 6 andl, which extend from a point 8 just below the top to a point just abovethe base, as at 9.

Positioned in the standard near the bottom of the slot is a cross shaftI t, on which is mounted a pinion l5, which, in turn, meshes and is usedto drive the rack 56, which is fitted inside one of the slots 1 in thestandard 3, as may be seen in The'lower end 21 of the rack "5 may movebetween the guide pins 22. It will be noticed that the lower end of therack is always below the lower end of the slot 1, so that the rack willbe prevented from being forced out through the slot 1 at this point.

Also secured on the standard 3, as may be seen in Fig. 7, is a disk 23,in which there are a plurality of depressions 24, into which will fit aspring detent 25 positioned on the adjacent surface of the revolvableoperating disk 26, which is provided with the convenient handle 21. Thisoperating disk 26 is pinned, as at 28, to the aforementioned cross shaftI0, on which is mounted the pinion l5, which drives the rack 16.

Thus, a rotation of the disk 26 by the handle 21 will elevate or lowerthe rack, depending on the direction of rotation, while the springdetent engaging in one of the peripheral depressions 24 of the disk 23will securely hold the rack in the position to which it has beenelevated or lowered.

Having explained the standard, rack, cross bar, and pinion, referencewill now be made to the leaves or segments of the table that form thetop, after which the connecting means with the collar or sleeve forelevating these leaves by a movement of the rack will be set out.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 11, there are shown what I term, for the sake ofconvenience, the long leaves 29, 30, 3|, and 32, while the short leaves33, 34, 35, and 3B are shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 12.

All these leaves are hinged to the octagonal central top portion 31,which is securely mounted at the upper end of the standard 3, as shownin Fig. 5. These short and long leaves, when assembled flat, form thecomplete top, as shown in Fig. 1.

Inasmuch as the long leaves are similar, a short description of one willbe a description of all.

Referring to Fig. 11, the leaf 29 has the semicircular outer edge 38 andthen tapers inwardly towards its inner end 39. The edges along thetapered portion bevel slightly outwardly, as at 4|, while across theunder surface may be spotwelded the lifting bar 42, that extends outbeyond the opposite side edges of this leaf. The outer edge 38 may berolled to form a bead of pleasing appearance and for strengtheningpurposes. There may also be seen the bracket 43, to which one of theelevating arms (later described) is to be connected.

The inner end 39 of the leaf is formed with curled eyes 44, as may beseen in Figs. 3 and 11, and these, in turn, will cooperate with therolled eyes 45 formed on the perimeter of the central top portion 31. Itmight be mentioned here that both the short and long leaves will havethese hinged formations on their inner ends to, in turn, cooperate withthe hinged formations about the perimeter of the portion 31, so thatthese leaves may all swing downwardly and upwardly from the portion 31as a pivotal point.

It will also be understood that any desirable hinge formation may beused to pivotally connect the leaves to the central supporting portion31.

Referring now to the shorter leaves, as illustrated in Fig. 12, it willbe seen that rather than having a semi-circular outer edge, they havethe angular outer edges, as shown at 46, while the opposite sides extendinwardly, as at 41, to the inner end 48, which is provided with theaforementioned hinge construction 49. In this instance, the side edges41 bevel slightly inwardly, as at 41', so that when the shorter andlonger leaves are in the raised position, the bevelled edges willcooperate to make a relatively tight fit, thus assuring a smooth topsurface to the table.

Also, it will be noticed in Fig. 12 that I provide a small rack,comprising the two hooks 50 mounted on a bar 5| and provided with arigid cross piece 52. The bar 5| is attached to the underside of theleaf 36, as at 53. There is further a small latch member 54 that may berotated, so that when the latch member is not over the cross bar 52, thesame may be swung upwardly and out of the way, as shown in dot and dashlines in Fig. 4, the latch member 54 holding the hooks in either oftheir two positions.

The purposes of these hooks are that in case there are magazines ornewspapers on the table when it is desired to lower the leaves, ratherthan looking for a new place for them, these hooks may be swungdownwardly, as shown in Fig. 12, and the magazines or books may be thenheld in these hooks. I have only shown one of these racks, but it willbe understood that these may be positioned on the other short leaves ina similar manner.

Having thus described the leaves that make up the table top, referenceis now made to the aforementioned sleeve or collar 20.

It will be seen in Fig. 5 that near the top of the collar 20 is formed acircumferential groove 55, in which will be pivotally secured the innerends of the elevating arms 56, the arms having an eyelet 51 formed inthe ends, so that a ring 58 may be placed through these eyelets, thering, in turn, fitting within the groove 55 to thus pivotally secure thearms to the collar.

The outer end of each arm is pivotally secured to a bracket similar tothe bracket 43, shown in Fig. 11.

Thus, as the collar or sleeve is elevated, it will force these arms 56upwardly and, naturally, outwardly to, in turn, elevate the leaves 29,3B, 3!, and 32, while the lifting bars 42 on the respective long leaveswill engage the under surface of the short leaves to cause all theleaves to elevate at the same time.

The operation is exceedingly simple. Supposing the leaves are in theirlower position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4., and it is desired to elevatethem to the position shown in Fig. 2, the small handle 21 on theoperating disk 2% will be grasped and the disk rotated to rotate thepinion l5 to elevate the rack 16, which is connected to the cross barIS. The cross bar slides within the slots 6 and 1, and as it isconnected with the collar, the rack elevates the collar while thecollar, in turn, through the arms 56, will elevate the longer leaves andthey, through the lifting bars 42, will elevate the shorter leaves, allin unison.

After rotating the pinion to elevate the leaves to horizontal position,the spring detent will engage one of the notches 24 and the table leaveswill now be held in their open or raised position.

To lower the table, the operating disk will be turned in the oppositedirection to allow the collar to descend and, in turn, to permit theleaves to fold downwardly.

When the leaves are in their lower position, the hooks 50 may be swungdownwardly to hold any papers or magazines.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised a table thatwill be particularly useful in apartments and other rooms wherein spaceis at a premium. It will also be appreciated that to open the table isbut the matter of a moment, as a few turns of the pinion will elevatethe leaves to their horizontal position.

Many slight changes might be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

I claim:

A pressed metal table including a standard having a fixed base, aplurality of segmental sections hinged to a plate to form the table top,certain of the segments provided with outwardly extending projections ontheir under surfaces to raise the remainder of said segments, the saidsegments that are provided with the outwardly extending means alsohaving pivotal arms, the standard provided with vertical slots, a collaron said standard, a cross bar connected to the collar, said cross barriding in said slots and the lower ends of said arms connected to saidcollar, rack and pinion means mounted in the standard and the rackconnected to said cross bar, a handle connected indirectly with saidpinion whereby an operation of said handle will elevate and lower all ofsaid segments, and means on the standard for cooperation with the handlefor locking the handle and thereby the pinion to thus hold the segmentsin a desired position.

CARLETON A. DAILEY.

